Fun and Free 8th Grade Math Puzzles

Kids who have strong logic, problem-solving and critical thinking skills often do well in math because they can see connections and solve complex problems. The following sites offer free math puzzles for your 8th grader, which can help him or her work on these skills.

Free Math Resources from The Math Forum at Drexel University

The wide variety of math puzzles offered at Ask Dr. Math will give your 8th grader a chance to review math skills while having fun. Dozens of math puzzles are written out, along with explanations of how to solve them. This way, you can give your child a puzzle to solve, and you'll have the explanation and answer available if he needs it.

Under the middle school category, you can find several puzzles that are appropriate for 8th grade students. The puzzles are not separated by specific grade level, but the descriptions allow you to see what math skills are needed to solve each puzzle.

Math Puzzles from MathIsFun.com

Here you'll find many tried-and-true math puzzles, such as those created and published more than a century ago by Samuel Loyd. These tricky word problems feature drawings and scenarios about 19th century life.

The puzzles offered by MathIsFun.com are not categorized by grade level, so you'll need to find puzzles that are relevant to the math skills your child needs to practice. Some puzzles employ logical reasoning skills, while others use spatial awareness and geometric concepts.

Geometry Puzzles from AIMS Education Foundation

The free games and puzzles available here are categorized by type; once you make a selection, you'll find the puzzles ranked by their level of difficulty. These puzzles are designed for teachers to use in their classrooms but can easily be adapted for at-home use. You may want to skim each introduction to find puzzles that line up with what your child needs to practice. For example, if your child is currently studying geometry, you can look for geometry puzzles that may help reinforce her 8th grade school work. The introductions also thoroughly explain the instructions for solving the puzzle, which should make it easier to help your child out if she gets stuck.

Some of the puzzles require additional props, like toothpicks or pennies. Your child will probably need scrap paper and a writing utensil to work on these problems. Both individual and group activities are offered.

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